Howard County - Today, troopers working from the Indiana State Police Peru Post conducted a Safe School/Active Shooter training session at Northwestern High School in Howard County. Administrators from the various school corporations in Howard and Cass Counties, along with first responders from the two counties, attended the training.

The training session was the result of several months of preparation by the Indiana State Police in cooperation with the Indiana Department of Education. The goal was to provide training for school administrators on ways to respond to an active shooter situation and provide information on the response school personnel should expect from law enforcement. It also served as a starting point to gather ideas from various organizations in an effort to put the best practices in place to keep our children and communities safe.

The Indiana State Police has been tasked as the lead agency in coordinating active shooter training with school corporations throughout Indiana. Indiana State Police Superintendent Douglas Carter, with the support of Governor Mike Pence, has initiated this program for school administrators. One of Superintendent Carter’s and Governor Pence’s highest priorities is to make an effort to provide the safest environment possible for all school children in Indiana.

The coordinated effort was launched with the Indiana Department of Education to create and implement a statewide training program that would involve all parties responsible for the care and safety of our children. This program, which was already in the developmental stages before the tragedy in Connecticut, has come to be known as the “Safe Schools/Active Shooter” program. Dr. Rich Hogue, formerly of the Indiana Department of Education, has been assigned as a liaison with the Indiana State Police to assist in this endeavor.

The training consisted of a power point presentation by troopers assigned to the Indiana State Police Peru Post. The power point presentation was preceded by an active shooter scenario, with officers from the Indianan State Police, the Kokomo Police Department, and the Howard County Sheriff’s Department acting as role players and utilizing blank ammunition. The scenario was designed to give school administrators a life like feel of what might occur during an actual active shooter situation. It also provided visual proof of a law enforcement response to an active shooter.

If your school corporation is interested in receiving a Safe School/Active Shooter presentation, contact the public information officer at your local Indiana State Police post. To find your local ISP public information officer visit http://www.in.gov/isp/2365.htm and click on the county where your school is located.

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